Government Bills: Committee Stages in each House

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish a table showing the number of hours of consideration given to completed Committee stages of each government Bill in the current Session in each House of Parliament.

Baroness Amos: The following table shows the number of hours spent in Committee in both Houses on each government Bill this Session.
	Figures are given to the nearest hour (or 15 minutes when Committee took under 1 hour).
	
		
			Bill Approximate time in Committee in the House of Lords(1) Approximate time in Committee in the House of Commons(2) 
			 Anti-social Behaviour 16 hrs 28 hrs 
			 Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) 15 mins 30 mins 
			 Communications 45 hrs 64 hrs 
			 Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) 11 hrs 10 hrs 
			 Consolidated Fund negatived formal 
			 Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) negatived formal 
			 Courts 27 hrs 13 hrs 
			 +Crime (International Co-operation) 17 hrs 19 hrs 
			 Criminal Justice 60 hrs 85 hrs 
			 +Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) 3 hrs 3 hrs 
			 +European Parliament (Representation) 2 hrs 12 hrs 
			 European Union (Accessions) 15 mins 3 hrs 
			 +Extradition 35 hrs 16 hrs 
			 Finance negatived 68 hrs 
			 +Fire Services 11 hrs 5 hrs 
			 +Health (Wales) 2 hrs 6 hrs 
			 Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) 39 hrs 53 hrs 
			 Hunting not completed 81 hrs 
			 Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) negatived 3 hrs 
			 Industrial Development (Financial Assistance) negatived 1 hr 
			 Licensing 31 hrs 43 hrs 
			 +Local Government 30 hrs 37 hrs 
			 National Minimum Wage (Enforcement Notices) 15 mins 30 mins 
			 Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission) 2 hrs 2 hrs 
			 Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) 15 mins 30 mins 
			 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 0 mins** 30 mins 
			 Planning and Compulsory Purchase (Carried over in the Commons) 31 hrs 
			 +Police (Northern Ireland) 6 hrs** 16 hrs 
			 +Railways and Transport Safety 8 hrs 38 hrs 
			 Regional Assemblies (Preparations) 22 hrs 28 hrs 
			 Sexual Offences 31 hrs 24 hrs 
			 +Waste and Emissions Trading 8 hrs 21 hrs 
			 +Water 27 hrs 13 hrs 
		
	
	+=Taken in Grand Committee in the House of Lords
	** These figures are different from those given in House of Lords Written Answer 4918. This is due to a clerical error when working out the previous answer.
	(1) No official figures are kept of this information. Figures in the table are calculated from the House of Lords Official Report (Hansard). Figures include any divisions held but do not include time where Committee was adjourned for statements or dinner break business.
	(2) No official figures are kept of this information. Figures in the table are calculated from the House of Commons Official Report (Hansard) and have been verified by Bill Teams. Programming committees, Money Resolutions and motions for approval etc are not included.

Afghanistan: UK Expenditure

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much they plan to spend in Afghanistan in 2004; how much they spent in 2002 and in 2003 so far; and whether they will provide a breakdown of expenditure in each of these years, including the proportion spent on military operations and the proportion spent on civil reconstruction.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK has pledged £322 million over five years for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan. Since September 2001 the UK has spent more than £191 million, £75 million of which was disbursed in financial year 2002–03; £55 million has been allocated for the current financial year 2003–04. The UK also provides significant levels of multilateral assistance through our contributions to the UN, European Commission (19 per cent of 1 billion euros over five years) and international development banks. Further information will be contained in a joint DfID/FCO fact sheet, which is currently being finalised and will be be available in the Library of the House shortly.
	Figures for expenditure in support of British military operations in Afghanistan in the current financial year will be published in the Winter Supplementary Estimates. In financial year 2002–03 costs of £310 million were incurred supporting our military operations in Afghanistan.

Guantanamo Bay: Judicial Procedures

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo are under the control of the President of the United States with no appeal to a civil court; and
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo provide for a jurisdiction in areas not previously subject to the laws of war; and
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo provide defendants with a legal remedy for violation of any procedural or other protections in the military commission instructions that might benefit them; and
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo provide that potentially exculpatory information may be withdrawn from military defence counsel if the prosecution does not intend to introduce such evidence at trial.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The order and instructions relating to military commissions can be found on the US Department of Defense website www.defenselink.mil.

Guantanamo Bay: Judicial Procedures

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo provide that defendants may be represented without their consent by lawyers assigned to them.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The order and instructions relating to military commissions can be found on the US Department of Defense website www.defenselink.mil.
	However, in addition, the Attorney-General, who has represented the Government in discussions with the US Administration about the military commissions, issued a statement on 22 July, following the first round of talks. This included a reference to the question of legal representation. Part of the statement says ". . . the US has assured us that . . . Begg and Abbasi will be able to be represented by an appropriately qualified US civilian lawyer of their own choosing, subject to security clearance. A UK lawyer will be able to serve as a consultant on the defence team. Each detainee will be able to decide to what extent he wished the appointed military counsel to participate in the preparation of his case."

Guantanamo Bay: Judicial Procedures

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo provide that communications between defendants and their lawyers may be monitored by the United States Defense Department.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The order and instructions relating to military commissions can be found on the US Department of Defense website www.defenselink.mil.
	However, in addition, the Attorney-General, who has represented the Government in discussions with the US Administration about the military commissions, issued a statement on 22 July, following the first round of talks. This included a reference to the question of communications between defendants and their lawyers. Part of the statement says ". . . the US has assured us that . . . exceptionally, conversations between Begg or Abbasi and his defence counsel would not be monitored or reviewed by US authorities."

Guantanamo Bay: Judicial Procedures

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 October (HL Deb, col. 936), whether the rules published by the United States Government for the trial by military commissions of British citizens and others held at Guantanamo provide that a guilty verdict for capital and other offences may be made by a two-thirds majority of the commission.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The order and instructions relating to military commissions can be found on the US Department of Defense website www.defenselink.mil.
	However, in addition, the Attorney-General, who has represented the Government in discussions with the US Administration about the military commissions, issued a statement on 22 July, following the first round of talks. This included a reference to the question of capital punishment. Part of the statement says ". . . the US has assured us that . . . the prosecution will not seek the death penalty in the cases of Feroz Abbasi and Moazzem Begg."

Afghanistan: Opium Poppy Crop Survey

Lord Patel of Blackburn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the results of the most recent United Nations Opium Poppy Crop Survey in Afghanistan.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released its survey results for the 2003 opium poppy crop in Afghanistan on 29 October. The survey showed that opium poppy cultivation increased by 8 per cent from 74,000 hectares in 2002 to 80,000 hectares in 2003 while production rose by 6 per cent from 3,400 tonnes in 2002 to 3,600 tonnes in 2003. The UN survey also revealed that cultivation in traditional areas—where the Afghan Government have been able to exert control—decreased and moved into more marginal areas.
	The UK use the UN survey, which is produced in partnership with the Afghan Government, as a reference point for its work as the lead nation on counter-narcotics support in Afghanistan. While the increase in opium cultivation and production is unwelcome, it is not unexpected. Experience of counter-narcotic policies in other countries, such as Pakistan and Thailand, shows that cultivation tends to increase before declining. Production also tends to move from traditional areas to more marginal and inaccessible areas to protect crops against law enforcement activity. Reductions in the traditional areas demonstrates that drug control policy has been effective where the Afghan Government have been able to exert control. Increasing security and stability in Afghanistan remains key to progress in reducing opium production.
	Afghanistan's national drug control strategy, agreed earlier this year, has set the target of eliminating opium poppy by 2013. The UK is investing £70 million on sustainable measures over the next three years to support implementation of that strategy; additional staff are being deployed to Kabul to assist in the implementation. Other nations are also contributing, either directly or indirectly, to counter-narcotics work in Afghanistan, complementing the UK's efforts. I will be co-hosting, with President Karzai and the United Nations, an international conference in Kabul in February next year to boost further the international counter-narcotics effort in Afghanistan.

Iraq: Costs of UK Involvement

Baroness Billingham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the incurred costs, promised costs and anticipated costs of the United Kingdom involvement in Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The costs are as follows: Military Costs
	The Chancellor has set aside £3 billion for military operations in Iraq.
	The Ministry of Defence has drawn down £1 billion from this special reserve during the 2003 Spring Supplementary Estimates. From this amount, the cost of preparatory activity in the 2002–03 financial year is currently estimated to have been £700 million. Further information on the total net additional cost of the military operation during the 2002–03 financial year will be found in the Ministry of Defence's Resource Account for 2002–03, which is due to be published around the end of October.
	For the current financial year, further sums have been drawn down from the special reserve. These are subject to scrutiny by HM Treasury and Parliament through the normal estimates process. Reconstruction
	Her Majesty's Government plan to spend a total of £544 million on reconstruction in Iraq for the three years from April 2003, including our contribution to EC assistance and our secondment of personnel to the Coalition Provisional Authority. Other Costs
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £5.62 million on additional security at posts in the Middle East during 2002–03, and expects to spend a further £1.3 million in this financial year on security costs at posts directly attributable to our action in Iraq.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office estimates that it will have spent up to £12.1 million on the British Office in Baghdad and other bilateral representation by the end of this financial year.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office forecasts a further £1.8 million of Iraq-related costs outside Iraq during this financial year. Future Costs
	Her Majesty's Government have not so far committed any other amounts in connection with the United Kingdom's involvement in Iraq.
	It is too early to predict the continuing costs of military deployment, support for the Coalition Provisional Authority and development of bilateral relations with Iraq beyond the end of this financial year.

Zimbabwe: Removal of Failed Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the change in the circumstances in Zimbabwe, from the period to mid-April 2003 when the phrase used in letters to asylum seekers and their representatives was that the Secretary of State was "not satisfied, on the information currently available, that unsuccessful asylum seekers can safely be returned to Zimbabwe", to the period since then when, in the case of Dowu before the Court of Appeal on 16 April 2003, Home Office representative Miss Susan Rogers said that "the suspension [of returns of failed asylum seekers] is based on political rather than legal grounds. It is not in place because it is considered unsafe for failed asylum seekers to return to Zimbabwe"; and what these political grounds are

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The suspension of removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe announced in January 2002 was in response to concerns about the serious deterioration in the situation in Zimbabwe in the build up to the presidential election held in March that year. We did not regard it as unsafe to return failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, but in view of the rapidly changing conditions we considered that it would be appropriate not to enforce returns.
	The Government's position is, as it has been since January 2002, that each asylum (and human rights) claim made by a Zimbabwean national will be considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Each application is considered against the background of the latest available country information including that obtained from and through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	I accept that the letters you refer to were poorly worded and that the phrase quoted was not an accurate reflection of the situation from January 2002 onwards. We took steps to rectify the wording in June 2002. The 16 April 2003 statement was an accurate statement of the situation existing not only at the time it was made but also for the period since January 2002.
	We do of course recognise that conditions in Zimbabwe are such that there are individuals who are able to demonstrate a need for international protection. Where they meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Convention, asylum is granted. There may also be individuals whose circumstances make them particularly vulnerable and who would engage our obligations under the ECHR. Where this is the case these individuals will be granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.
	In the first six months of this year, we have granted asylum to 615 Zimbabweans and granted other forms of protection to over 20 others. These statistics show that we are giving protection to the significant number of people who are found to be in need of it.
	If an applicaion is refused, there will be a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities against that decision. Should a claim be refused and any appeal be unsuccessful that means that, for that individual, return to Zimbabwe would be safe. That is why we consider it reasonable to expect an individual in that position to leave voluntarily.
	Although it would be safe to return failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, our view at present is that in the wider context of the Government's position on Zimbabwe, it would be inappropriate forcibly to return them at this time.
	The policy remains under continuous review.

Eurodac Database

Baroness Harris of Richmond: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) how many individuals the United Kingdom has entered on the Eurodac database since it became operational;
	(b) how many times the United Kingdom has consulted the database;
	(c) how many times the United Kingdom has received requests for information from other member states; and
	(d) how many positive hits on the database have resulted from these consultations.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The European Commission is responsible for the publication of statistical data relating to Eurodac.
	(a) Data relating to how many individuals the United Kingdom has entered on the Eurodac database since it became operational is not currently available.
	(b) The fingerprints of all UK asylum applicants over the age of 14 are sent from the UK Immigration Fingerprint Bureau in Croydon to the Eurodac Central Unit database in Luxembourg. They are then stored and checked against the records of all those who have applied for asylum on EU territory or have been encountered in the unlawful crossing of an external EU border since 15 January 2003.
	(c) Other EU member states send fingerprints to the Central Unit in the same manner and these will be checked automatically against fingerprints sent by the United Kingdom and all other member states.
	(d) The relevant data have yet to be published by the European Commission and will form part of the annual report on Eurodac to be published early in 2004.

Anti-social Behaviour

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 20 October (HL4621), whether they will commission research into the impact of dietary supplements on anti-social behaviour.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office has no plans to do so.

Criminal Records Bureau

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many individuals have been cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau for more than (a) five different purposes, (b) four different purposes, (c) three different purposes, and (d) two different purposes; and
	Whether the independent review of the workings of the Criminal Records Bureau made recommendations concerning multiple applications from a single individual; if so, what they were; and when they are due to be implemented.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is not possible to extract this information from the Criminal Records Bureau's database (CRB) because its information technology (IT) system does not provide a facility for this.
	The independent review team delivered its conclusions and 10 recommendations to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary last December. My noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton set out the Government's response on 27 February 2003, Official Report, (WA 49–53). None of the recommendations addressed the issue of multiple applications from a single individual. But we are committed to making the disclosure service as accessible as possible. In order to reduce cost and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy, employers are encouraged to consider accepting a disclosure issued on a previous occasion for a similar purpose. The CRB has produced guidance to assist this process. The arrangements have been kept under review. ra

Criminal Records Bureau

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the three most common faults in incorrectly completed Criminal Records Bureau application forms; and what steps are being taken to reduce their frequency.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The three most common faults in incorrectly completed disclosure application forms are as follows:
	21 per cent have omissions in the applicant's five-year address history;
	11 per cent contain an incorrect counter-signatory reference number; and
	9 per cent contain insufficient evidence of the applicant's identify.
	The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) continually assesses and amends its operational procedures to provide its customers with an easily accessible and user-friendly service. This includes advising customers on the correct completion of the disclosure application form. This is communicated via revised and improved guidance notes for disclosure applicants, a monthly newsletter for registered bodies, a video and information contained on the CRB website, www.disclosure.gov.uk. A dedicated registered body assurance team is also available to offer advice and guidance to registered bodies on all aspects of the disclosure service.

Criminal Records Bureau

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What factors justify the doubling in the charge for a standard check by the Criminal Records Bureau from £12 to £24.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have always made it clear that the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) would be financed through the fees charged for providing the disclosure service, and that the fee levels would be subject to regular review. The disclosure fee is determined by a combination of CRB costs and the volume of applications. The level of demand has been lower than expected, due principally to the decision to defer introduction of basic disclosures, while some costs have increased—for example, as a result of the introduction of a paper application channel in response to customer demand.

Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 9 October (WA 67), whether there are any plans to call on veterans, both serving and retired, to provide such medical records as may remain in their possession so as to assist research into the causes of Gulf War illnesses which remain medically unexplained.

Lord Bach: The Government remain committed to funding appropriate research into Gulf veterans' illnesses and factors which might have a bearing on these. Where appropriate to do so, some researchers have already taken account of existing medical records where consent has been provided by veterans. The Government's Gulf veterans' illnesses research programme is guided by expert advice from the independent Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC has conducted a review of all UK Gulf veterans' illnesses research, and published a report in May 2003 which is available on the Internet at: http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index/publications/publications-researchreviews/public-gulfveterans research.htm. The MRC made a number of recommendations for more research, but did not recommend further research using medical records in the possession of Gulf veterans. The MRC's view was that research aimed at improving the long-term health of Gulf veterans who still have symptoms should take priority.

Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 9 October (WA 67), whether the decision to make anthrax vaccinations optional in the deployment in Iraq this year was taken in consequence of defects in the procedures used in 1990–91 deployment.

Lord Bach: No. Immunisation against anthrax for United Kingdom Armed Forces was voluntary during the 1990–91 Gulf conflict and remains voluntary, in keeping with longstanding medical practice.
	The MoD's intention in 1990–91 that immunisation against anthrax was voluntary has been documented in the MoD paper Implementation of the Immunisation Programme against Biological Warfare Agents for UK Forces during the Gulf Conflict 1990–1991, dated 20 January 2000. This paper is available in the Library of the House and on the Internet at: http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/medical/bwa/chl.htm. As this paper explains, when instructions from MoD headquarters were cascaded down the command chain, in some cases the voluntary nature of the immunisation programme was not adequately communicated, which may have led to a perception that such vaccines were mandatory.
	Since 1991, training and briefing procedures have been improved to ensure that the voluntary nature of immunisation against anthrax is fully understood by all personnel offering or receiving the immunisation.

Bail Refusals: Breastfeeding Mothers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will collect information from the courts and adjudicators about mothers who are breastfeeding and who are refused bail.

Lord Filkin: The only information that my department collects about bail decisions is for those made in the Crown Court on whether bail was granted or refused. There are no plans to collect the data suggested.

Local and European Parliamentary Elections: Franchise and Membership

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the relevant United Kingdom statute, European treaty or legislative basis for the rights of citizens of member states of the European Union, resident in the United Kingdom, to nominate, vote for or become members of local and regional government bodies and of the European Parliament.

Lord Filkin: Council Directives 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993 and 94/80/EC of 19 December 1994, implementing article 8B of the Maastricht Treaty, allow any EU citizen to vote and stand as a candidate in their member state of residence in European Parliamentary and municipal elections, respectively. Directive 93/109/EC was implemented in the UK by the European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualification of Representatives) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/342). Directive 94/80/EC was implemented in the UK by the Local Government Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualification of Members) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1948). Further Regulations—the Local and European Parliamentary Elections (Registration of Citizens of Accession States) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1557)—aimed at including citizens of Accession States resident in the UK were made in June 2003.

State Pension: Cost of Uprating

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 20 October (WA 153), what assumptions were made for the future rates of increase of (a) average earnings; and (b) the minimum income levels underwritten by pension credits.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The assumptions used were that the basic state pension was increased by 2.5 per cent in the years up to April 2005. In April 2006, the basic state pension was assumed to be uprated by £7 for a single person and £11 for a couple.
	After April 2006, the basic state pension was assumed to increase annually in line with average earnings. Medium and long-term projections of average earnings are as published in the 2003 Budget and forecast real earnings growth at 2 per cent.
	In modelling the pension credit, the guarantee credit has been uprated by earnings whilst the savings credit threshold has been uprated in line with the basic state pension.
	However, the earlier answer should have said that the figures provided take account of the £11 increase for a couple.

EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Lord Clarke of Hampstead: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the outcome was of the Employment Social Policy Health and Consumer Affairs Council held on 20 October and what was their stance on the issues discussed including their voting record.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers (Gerry Sutcliffe, Member for Bradford South) represented the UK at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 20 October 2003.
	The Council held a public debate on the Commission Communication on Immigration, Integration and Employment.
	The UK stated that immigration alone would not solve Europe's demographic problem and that the employment strategy provided the appropriate framework for improving the participation of immigrants in the labour market. Several delegations argued that member states should meet their demand for additional labour from national and European sources before seeking immigrants from outside the EU.
	On integrating immigrants, the UK stressed the need to provide language, skills and citizenship training for recent and next generation immigrants to prevent social exclusion and burdens on the public purse and argued that a job was the best means of social integration.
	The Council adopted conclusions on the open method of co-ordination of adequate and sustainable pensions. There will be a progress report to the Council on 1 December about pensions indicators.
	The Council reached political agreement on a directive protecting workers from the risks of exposure to electromagnetic fields and waves, as well as on the decision to renew the spending programme to prevent and combat violence against women, young people and children (Daphne II). The UK supported both decisions.
	The Council agreed an orientation towards political agreement on Chapters 7 and 8 of Regulation 1408/71 on social security co-ordination. The chapters cover pre-retirement benefits and family benefits.
	The Council agreed an orientation towards a political agreement on a regulation amending Regulation 1408/71 to align provisions in readiness for the launch of a European health card in June 2004.
	The Council approved the opinion of the Social Protection Committee on a Commission Communication on streamlining open co-ordination in the field of social protection.
	The Council adopted without discussion a resolution on transforming undeclared work into regular employment in the context of the European employment strategy, and a resolution encouraging member states to consider the provisions of various services for victims of trafficking.
	Under "Any Other Business", the Belgians presented a short paper on growth and competitiveness.
	No health or consumer affairs items were on the agenda.
	No votes were taken at this Council.

National Insurance: Employers' Contributions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider merging employers' national insurance contributions with corporation tax so as to shift the tax burden away from small businesses.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no such plans. The Inland Revenue, however, continues to work with employer representatives and others to examine scope for aligning the tax and national insurance rules at a practical level while having regard to the contributory principle and the need to protect the individual's benefit entitlement.

Tax Compliance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why tax compliance currently costs per year an average of £288 per employee for small firms, but only £5 for the largest firms.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The figures quoted are from the Bath report (Vol 1, table 3.6 page 30) published by the Inland Revenue in November 1998. They reflect the cost to the employer of complying with the PAYE and national insurance responsibilities as they stood in 1995–96 when the research was undertaken. A more up-to-date numerical measure is not available, although the 2001 Review of Payroll Services by Patrick Carter gives a more recent qualitative view.
	The Inland Revenue has pursued a number of initiatives to address the fact that the costs of tax compliance for small firms are disproportionately higher than those for large firms. Many of the specific recommendations in the two reports cited have been implemented or are under development. In addition the Inland Revenue now has a target to reduce the compliance costs of small businesses. Work is currently in hand on a range of measures including implementation of the electronic approach recommended by the Carter review. From 2004–05 businesses with fewer than 50 employees will receive financial incentives to help them to switch to new technology and realise benefits for their business. For the past two years small employers have benefited from a twice-yearly CD-ROM issued by the Inland Revenue. This gives ready access to the key information which the employer previously had to access in sizeable paper information packs. Small employers have commented that this cuts the cost both of accessing the information and of correcting unnecessary errors.

Civil Service

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What costs have been incurred in financing additional Civil Service posts created in the years:
	(a) 2001–02;
	(b) 2002–03; and
	(c) 2003–04 (as forecast in the estimates).

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It is for departments to provide data and estimates on the cost of the increase in public sector jobs. All departments have met and are forecast to meet staffing costs within budget allocations.

Elected Regional Assemblies

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to hold a campaign to raise public awareness of the forthcoming referendums on elected regional assemblies.

Lord Rooker: My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be launching an information campaign in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber on 3 and 4 November. This campaign will explain to voters the issues around the referendums on regional assemblies and the associated local government changes, which we expect to be held next Autumn. Further events will be held over the next year. Copies of the voter-friendly leaflet are available in the Libraries of the House. ra

Renewables Obligation Buy-out Fund

Lord Jenkin of Roding: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking to restore confidence to the market in renewable obligation certificates so as to assist firms seeking finance for developing renewable electricity generation; and
	Whether they will use some of the £100 million surplus funds raised through auctioning output from non-fossil fuel obligations contracts to fill the hole in the renewables obligation buy-out fund; and
	When they expect to learn the outcome of their discussions with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets aimed at seeking a resolution of the problems caused by the administration of the TXU Europe Group not meeting the deadline for paying the sum due to the renewables obligation buy-out fund; and
	Whether they will allocate the £60 million earmarked in the Sustainable Energy Bill for promoting the use of energy from renewable sources to the renewables obligation buy-out fund, in order to restore confidence to the market in such certificates.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government are consulting on proposals to mitigate the market impact of any future shortfall in the buy-out fund. These proposals have been developed in discussion with the Industry and with Ofgem.
	The Government have no plans to use any of the £100 million non-fossil fuel obligation surplus to meet the shortfall in the renewables obligation buy-out-fund.
	Likewise, use of any of the £60 million, which has been earmarked (from the NFFO surplus) in the Sustainable Energy Bill, to meet a shortfall in the buy-out fund is not permitted.

Haemophilia Patients: vCJD Blood Donors

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 6 October (WA 42), whether they will take steps to establish at the earliest possible date the number of haemophilia patients who have been informed by the National Health Service that blood products from donors diagnosed with vCJD were used in their treatment.

Lord Warner: We do not have any plans to collect this information. Any such collection would raise difficult issues over patient confidentiality.

Committee on Safety of Medicines: Membership of Vaccines Subgroup

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the membership of the vaccines subgroup of the Committee on Safety of Medicines at its meeting on 10 February following the request to the committee to review the licensing information on the administration of the anthrax vaccine.

Lord Warner: The membership of the vaccines subgroup of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) is detailed as follows: Membership of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Biologicals Sub-committee and the Vaccines Working Group 10 February 2003
	Professor Gordon W Duff
	Professor Deborah Ashby
	Professor Derek H Calam
	Dr Michael Corbel
	Dr Stephen C Inglis
	Professor Donald J Jeffries
	Dr Elizabeth Miller
	Professor Michael J S Langman Observer
	Professor A M Breckenridge
	The vaccines subgroup of the CSM also met on 4 March to consider the anthrax vaccine: Membership of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Biologicals Sub-committee and the Vaccines Working Group 4 March 2003
	Professor Gordon W Duff
	Dr Barbara A Bannister
	Professor Peter Blain
	Dr Chris Box
	Professor Derek H Calam
	Dr Michael Corbel
	Dr Stephen C Inglis
	Professor Donald J Jeffries
	Dr Elizabeth Miller
	Emeritus Professor Geoffrey C Schild
	Dr David Salisbury Observer
	Professor A M Breckenridge

Smoking near Children

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to make smoking in close proximity to a young child an offence under child abuse legislation.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The most effective way to address the issue of smoking in close proximity to children is through public health education. Government media advertising will continue to draw attention to the dangers of second-hand smoke, particularly around children. In addition, cigarette packs now carry a range of new warnings, including "Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke". Health visitors and other health professionals will address the dangers of smoking around children in their work with families. The Government will continue to keep this issue under review.

Income Contingent Student Loan Scheme

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current total of outstanding loans under the income-contingent student loan scheme.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The total amount of income-contingent loans outstanding at the end of financial year 2001–02 in the United Kingdom was £5,909.9 million. This includes loans not yet due for repayment. The fixed rate loans of £500 to part-time students are included, as well as hardship loans.
	Information on student loans in financial year 2002–03 will be published during November 2003 in the Statistical First Release: Student Support: Statistics of Student Loans for Higher Education in the United Kingdom—Financial Year 2002–03 and Academic Year 2002–03.

Income Contingent Student Loan Scheme

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimates they have made of the increase in the total debt outstanding under the income-contingent student loan scheme in the first three years after the proposed introduction of increased tuition fees; and how such estimates are calculated.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The increase in the amount of student loan in the first three years after the introduction of variable fees will depend on the following factors: the numbers of students entering higher education institutions (HEIs) in those three years; the level of fees charged by each HEI; and the proportion of students who choose to take out loans to cover the cost of their fees, and the value of such loans.

SchlumbergerSema

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What services SchlumbergerSema provides for the Cabinet Office.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: SchlumbergerSema provides the Cabinet Office with system integration services for the Government Gateway.

Speed Cameras

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the number of (a) fixed and (b) mobile cameras funded by each of the safety camera partnerships in each year of operation.

Lord Davies of Oldham: This information is not held centrally. However those areas that net off must identify within their operational cases the sites at which they intend to enforce using cameras and this information is available in the Library of the House.

Speed Cameras

Viscount Simon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) fixed and (b) mobile cameras were already in use immediately prior to the implementation of additional funding through the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 listed by police force areas.

Lord Davies of Oldham: This information is not held centrally.